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G'day Michael,
Taking your questions as asked:-
- As I presume you are looking at steel, your first look at the exterior hull is a reasonable guide. If the plates are even and not bowed etc then you're looking good. Given that steel vessels rot from the inside more than the outside, one very handy piece of gear for inspections is a mirror on an extending arm. Pull up the cabin sole, look behind bulkheads and storage areas and with a torch, look to see what limber holes there are, whether they are filled with glug etc. A good surveyor will do this anyway.
In the case of Tringriz, she was built by a professional ferrybuilder and when you looked at her innards, that was patently obvious as there were more stringers than the design had etc etc.
- why did we sell Tringriz? Simply because PJ felt she needed a bigger boat (HaCienda ,our next boat, was a Hans Christian 43) in which to try our circumnavigation. In the end, that is still unfinished business and as she is now well and truly ensconsed on land, I hope to head off again in a couple of years and like you, I am debating whether to build or buy a Spray 33 or maybe 36.
- the merits of a Spray 33? Whilst beating to windward like an America's Cup yacht is not one, nonetheless they are safe and reliable, carry heaps (we took 25 removalists boxes off TG and could only get 18 back on HaCienda!!), they are predictable and sail well. Our best speed ever was just over 9 knots and with our MPS up and drawing, we often got 3-4 knots in light breezes (TG also had a slightly taller 48' mast which was great in lighter airs). Like all boats, they are a compromise but as I said, I'm heading back to one to hopefully finish my circumnavigation.
- as to price, it would seem a good 33 should be in the 70-90K range and a 36 in the 105-130K range
I hope this has been of some help-have you considered joining the Slocum Spray Society of Australia? They are a great fund of information.
Tony
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